Hello all--

I'm a beginning Ventriloquist who is ready to purchase a partner for my first routine. I've been shopping around on the internet for a used figure for quite some time, as new ones tend to be a little out of my price range for the time being. However, during my search, I came across this:

http://www.amazon.com/Costumes-Occasions......01BXLN7O

http://www.buy.com/prod/morris-costume-n......066.html

http://madhattermagicshop.com/magicshop/......_id=3556

This is the same figure--and he's on dozens of sites--which leads me to believe that he is a mass-produced, novelty type figure (maybe an odd step between a conversion figure and a professional one?)but there is absolutely NO information about the manufacturer or anything on any website I see him advertised on.

Does anyone know anything about this fellow?

Hi matt;


Welcome aboard;

I am a new Ventriloquist as well and can sympathize with you on trying to purchase a new figure.

Go here and look; for a few bucks more you can have a quality figure that has a terrific warranty and the figure is custom made

Dan is a great guy, I have one of his figures; you can call him and he will actually answer the telephone.

BTW go to edit profile on the top right of this screen and fill in the other information; this will tell us mre about you.


http://www.danpayespuppetry.com/

Matt;
I sent you a PM, but go send Wanlu an email, he has a figure for sale

Hi Matt,

Welcome aboard. We hope you are slightly insane since that is a requirement here.

Steve
http://www.thedummyshoppe.com

Matt - Welcome!
The figure you have the links for I believe is made by Jerry Layne. He made fullsize figures 38" - 42", and he also made this smaller "Jr." figure that is only 30"
I did not know they were being marketed on so many sites, but then I haven't been paying attention.
I have one of his full size figures, but never had one of these smaller ones, or even seen one in person to comment too much on it.
30" is kind of small in my opinion, but different strokes for different folks.
I'd watch ebay, figures are often coming up for sale there, often for less than the lowest price you found on that figure.

Thanks again, gentlemen. The thought that it was a Jerry Lane figure had occurred to me, too, since it looks very similar to the ones he has on his website, but I didn't understand why they were so widely available and so varied in price. It almost seems like they were mass produced.

For now, I think I will just sit and watch ebay...I've seen three figures go for around 220 dollars on it the last week, and they all had moving eyes and mouth--the only features I really need. (I got sniped on all three auctions, and I could't up the bid in the 10 seconds left in the auction.)

Edit: I also wanted to mention that I've looked at Dan Payes's website. I love, love, love his aesthetic and design. It's just at the moment, it's still out of my price range to buy a new figure, which is why I am looking for a more basic, older one. When I get hired full time as a teacher somewhere, that should change.

Thanks again for your kindness, all of you. This is already shaping up to be an excellent community.

Matt, I thought you posted that you didn’t have a figure and you were looking to purchase your first one.

The figure in your picture with you looks great, almost lifelike.

From the photo, it looks like the figure has self centering eyes that moves from side to side, sneer, blink a single eye and both eyes together and has flapping ears. What else can she do?

I’m the one that’s jealous

Hey Matt,

I see you are in Gadsden. You are just down the road a piece from us. We are in Decatur, just south of Huntsville. You are real close to one of my favorite flea markets (Mountaintop)

Steve
http://www.thedummyshoppe.com

Oh yeah, I've been to Mountaintop. That place is incredible! Some of the best deals I have ever gotten in my life were up there.

It's kinda cool to see how many people are from around here. Ive noticed a some members from Mobile, as well.

It's even more heartewarming to know what a kind and caring community this forum is. Thanks a lot for your help, guys.

So what type of figure are you looking for Matt, do you have something specific in mind? Something along the lines of the one in your original post? Or were just looking at that one because of the price?

Well, I didn't really care for that figure at all--I just thought I would mention it cause I saw it advertised a lot and didn't know who the maker was because there was no info on it.

I'm currently looking for a hard figure, preferably male, with basic functions--moving mouth and moving eyes. I'm not being too picky, as I'm just starting out. Just looking for something to test out with my friends and family first.

I'd rather get a used figure than commission someone to make a new figure because A. It's usually cheaper that way and B. I'd rather give a good home to an old figure that someone doesn't want anymore.

But the more I think about it, the more I'm leaning toward contacting Dan Payes to make me a figure. It just depends on the size of my tax return this year.

EDIT: I should mention, I'm not really looking for a conversion figure, either; they're just not my thing.

Hey Matt,

From the description of what you are looking for, along with the budget constrainsts you mentioned, you might also want to look at Clinton Detweiler ( http://www.ventdj.blogspot.com ) Clinton has been around forever, and is very economical in his prices. Keep all your options open.

Steve
http://www.thedummyshoppe.com

Dan Payes does good work, fast and reasonably priced. My friend Bob Abdou bought a nice 'bum' type figure from him and got exactly what he wanted with very fast turnaround time, and he didn't have to spend a fortune. Bob let me operate the little guy and the mechanics were smooth and quiet. The figure was light weight too.

I had a figure from Dan for a bit, and I do recall the mechanics were very good and it wasn't a heavy figure.

I never suggest one of those for an adult, I think they are just too small for the average adult to use (just my personal opinion).

Clinton’s last figure he had for sale, sold for over $5000.00 on eBay

If it's the one I'm thinking of, it had some historic value.

It did have some historic value. Most of Clintons figures don't go anywhere near that high, but this one was one he had had for years and had used it as the basis for part of the Maher Course and it had been on display. Someone was not looking for a figure, they wanted some nostalgia from the days of the Maher Studios


Steve
http://www.thedummyshoppe.com

That figure that Clinton sold that went for 5000. was an Insull figure - he posted it as being in pristine condition when purchased in '72 and was not used, but on display in the Maher Studios office and temporarily at an Arts center.
The info about that figure is still available in his blogspot here;
http://mrdsinsull.blogspot.com/
The most recent figure he sold on ebay sold for 350. and was the figure he used to show how to build a figure using the instructions in the Maher course Lesson 18 to build your own dummy.
Here's the link to his blogspot post about that;
http://ventdj.blogspot.com/2011/02/lesson-18-dummy.html

Blueshawk,

You are right. I had the two mixed together. Ok. I know about assuming. I just remember reading the post on Clintons site and "assumed" that was the one that went so high. My bad.

Steve
http://www.thedummyshoppe.com

I have been told the Insull figure that Clinton sold was purchased by Jeff Dunham. I can't confirm this 100% but it makes sense. The value of the figure was no where near what it brought which was evident by the sale of a second Insull with an additional movement ( wiggling ears) which was complete with the original body and it sold for $2000.00 which was more in the realm of the value of an Insull.
Dan
http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com